[b]Chapter 13: Allies[/b]

The door to Leofric's chambers opened up and a soldier towered up in its entrance. "Lady Freda of House Risley wishes for an audience, sire." the man announced. Leofric sat in a chair by his desk on the opposite end of the room's entrance, partially leaning over the table while studying a large, splayed out map with various figured positioned throughout it.
"Yes, yes, tell them to wait." the king concisely replied before realising what the soldier had just said, looking up. "Risley? Well, send her in then."

Leofric patiently sat reclined into his chair while the armoured princess explained the situation to him. He had always enjoyed women with a fighting prowess, capable of looking after themselves, and this womanly royal was the prime example. He raised a hand to idly scratch his cheek as the highborn lady concluded her news. His eyes shifted between Freda and the war map upon the table and let out a silent sigh before taking to words.

"I understand your situation, Lady Freda. Truly, I do. But as you undoubtedly saw coming here I am in no position to help anyone. I have five hundred men in town - eight hundred if I add the guardsmen, and there are thousands of Raylians outside my walls who are not keen on stopping their attack. They hate us with a passion. They are never going to cooperate with us, and quite frankly, I'm not even entertaining the thought myself of working with them. So this is my offer to you, princess..." Leofric delays for a moment to take a new breath and leans forward, clasping his hands over the table. Eyes fixed upon the female. "I will help you with this cult, but in order for me to be able to do so I'm going to need your aid first. Go back to your comrades and march them here. Help me destroy the besieging Raylian army and I promise you that your country will receive the full backing of the Northlands. I am aware that this would risk plunging your two nations into war with one another, so if this is unacceptable to you then... I'm afraid you'll have to return back empty-handed."

Leofric narrowed his eyes somewhat, studying the princess's reaction. She appeared conflicted about the dilemma he had presented to her, but eventually she bowed her head lightly, her response bouncing off the chamber walls. "I...I accept. We will help you to dispose of the Raylian rabble in exchange for your support. I'm holding you to your word, majesty." The highborn lady's words were reluctant, and Leofric noticed the shadow of anxiety from her as well. He understood. It was no easy decision to make.

"And I to yours. I suspect the Raylians will construct new siege equipment after we destroyed their old ones. It should delay them for a day or two under which we're given our opportunity to strike. Naturally, they will continue to harass my walls in skirmishes to keep us pinned inside, but we'll sally out if you get here in time. Together we will crush them and scatter the survivors. Then you will have your support."

The king smiled thinly and reclined into his chair again, gesturing briefly with a hand to indicate the audience was at an end. The warrior princess inclined her head respectfully and uttered her gratitude before turning to depart the chambers. Leofric watched the door close behind her and then rose up from his seat. He made his way over to a window and glanced outside at the greying sky. For his sake he hoped that Lady Freda and her army arrived in time. For her sake he hoped that she'd arrive at all.